happy birthday to u

[whenyouneedme]

♥ Who: sad rawna kids, maybe less sad other people
♥ Where: rawna’s house
♥ When: 7/4-7/8
♥ What: canon update party
♥ Rating: prolly pg for intense worry


This was not how the afternoon was supposed to go.

It was really just supposed to be a little lounge in the afternoon. Kai had taken Bug out for a little romp in the sunshine, let the little guy stretch its… uh… rind? Get its roll on. Enjoy that one patch of grass for a while, a fruitbug needed some quality time outside sometimes, probably. Kai did at least. Playing with the orange eventually devolved into just sitting around for a bit as it rolled around, and that eventually led to laying back to watch the clouds roll by. Had there been any plans for dinner? Was the kind of idle thought that passed by. Maybe when all three of them were home, they could try making oyakodon or something together. That seemed like a good time.

When idle thoughts and lazy clouds became a nap, he didn’t know.

He didn’t wake up when Rawna’s priests came and picked him up. He didn’t wake up when Bug squeaked at them either, so he missed all the erratic circles it rolled around them as they went off to the temple.

It rolled all the way there, and all the way back, rolling around in obvious circles in the yard until someone it knew came home. Was it you? Yes? Well, better follow that fruit cuz there it went down the road to Rawna’s house.

The priests were kind of expecting them. Even with the mishaps that had happened, Rawna’s priests were familiar enough with this group to know that there was one pertinent reason Shinji or Kyoko would have shown up right now…. Even if they didn’t yet. Yes, their friend was this way. Yes, they could visit with him.

He didn’t wake up then, either.

Comments

[hedgehogsdilemma]

What a comfort it is, just that little action from Kyoko. Shinji squeezes her hand tighter for a moment, before relaxing it into a more comfortable grip. Easy now, easy.

"I know... he'd be happy that you have his other one." Knowing what he knows, is it unfair to her to put her in a situation where she might not know what flames of affection that might stoke under regular circumstances? Maybe if he weren't so distressed already, he might be more considerate about it, but right now... gosh, wouldn't it be just as comforting to her to know that she's doing something very right, even when they can't fix the problem in front of them.

[daikonrose]

Can Shinji possibly know how her heart aches with those words? He's saying it to be nice, she knows, and there's probably even some truth to it. Kaito would probably like it if she held his hand too. He probably wouldn't mind if they climbed right into that bed with his comatose body. That's the way he is.

So she knows there's no meaning behind Shinji's words, it's just her fool heart acting up with inconvenient emotions again. Nothing she needs to let him worry about, especially not right now. So after a brief pause, Kyoko gives a tiny nod.

"Then... let's stay like this just a little longer."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

That might become an enticing idea much later on, actually. For now, no, there will be no extra cozy three-to-a-one-person-cot sleepovers in Rawna's temple. Hand holding is enough for now, one hand to keep every other occupied.

"Mmm," he nods, just a little bit. "I'd like that, too."

For his own reassurance, for hers, for Kai's, even if he's not awake to enjoy it. Perhaps, once he's back with them, he'll be able to hear all about it, about how endlessly kind Kyoko was in keeping him - both of them - company. About how deeply she wanted to fix this problem.

[daikonrose]

It might not have the power to fix anything, it might even add a few extra pangs to Kyoko's heart, but this is undoubtedly the best way to see this nightmare through--for all three of them. There is a part of her that's sure they'd both think she was overstepping if they realized the truth of her feelings, but it's overshadowed by everything else. Shinji and Kaito don't know, and they'll never know, so this is fine, right? Being there for them is more important than repenting for her transgressions.

Still, she tears her eyes away from Kaito long enough to look sidelong at Shinji, and sends him a silent apology from her heart. There's nothing to say right now, so she'll only stroke her thumb over his hand again as she looks away. For him, too, she's doing her best now.

[hedgehogsdilemma]

She's doing great, they're both doing their best.

With nothing left to be said, there's no reason to not lapse into a comfortable silence. This time it's not an oppressive quiet, with the benefit of having someone else there. In spite of all the distress and worry gnawing at him, having Kyoko here instills a sense of calmness in his heart. This turn is a survivable one, and if there's one message his heart wants to send to her, it's 'Thank you'. Thank you for being here, for staying, for keeping him from crashing.

And so, they wait.